Wanderer

Weeks passed by in an incomprehensible blur as Graea wandered from one place to another, never staying around long, never making any sort of connection with the people she met. She travelled in her human form, a small bag carrying what belongings she'd taken from the den before she left. The daggers strapped to her arm and thigh served her well as she hunted for food, hiding away in the woods to eat and rest. She avoided settlements where possible, not needing any provisions that she couldn't source away from the company of people.

Occasionally she came across other wolves, mostly lone or rogue males. Some of these merely passed her by, others tried to stay around, their intentions less than pleasant. In her solitary and mournful state, she was in no mood for company, rejecting any would-be companions. At first she simply avoided others, rejecting their advances on the backfoot, edging away until they took the hint. Bolder pursuers needed bolder rebuttals though and the sorrowful female began to revert to a more feral state, letting her rage run unchecked.

Sitting by a stream, filling her skins with water one day, months after she'd left her home, her alert senses pricked to a rustling sound behind her. Whipping her head round, a low snarl ripped from her throat. She no longer waited to ensure that any who approached deserved such treatment. Her emerald gaze now permanently narrowed into a suspicious and wary stare, she scanned the treeline until she saw him. A tall man with long thick dark hair spilling over his shoulders stood not 20 feet away watching her. The almost imperceptible flare of his nostrils told the observant female more than he intended to show as he stood downwind and his scent didn't quite reach her own nostrils.

A salacious smirk crossed his lips as he eyed the slender female crouched before him. Sure she was feisty, snarling at him already, but he could see she was young, alone and likely no match for his strength. He was a confident, cocky male. He stepped out of the treeline as soon as he noted that she had seen him. "This will go easier on you if you co-operate, my pretty." he growled out as he began to close the distance. Graea tensed, her posture becoming more aggressive as her head whipped around to quickly take note of her surroundings, the width and speed of the water flowing behind her, the slipperiness of the rocks, the distance to cover in the far trees.... then back to him, his height, his potential weight, the level speed and agility he displayed. Her father had taught her well and as well as being able to react quickly, she knew she had to judge her predicaments. But whilst she had knowledge, she was still young - she lacked experience and was now wasting time.

She watched him draw near, flexing her neck to one side with an audible crack as her body began to bristle ready for her shift. But it was too late. She'd spent too long assessing and not enough time running. His hand outstretched and with lightning speed a fist like a boulder struck the side of her skull. Darkness came quickly, her limp body falling quickly to the rocks as her clouding gaze watched him standing over her, unbuckling his belt with a vicious, smug smile on his lips. His foot reached out to kick at her to check for any reaction. The last thing her emerald eyes saw before they closed was him bending down to grab her.